DOCKET NO - DOC 1

							DOCKET NO. 243 - Omnipoint Facilities Network 2, L.L.C., a }                        Connecticut
subsidiary of T-Mobile, USA, Inc. application for a Certificate of
Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the }                                  Siting
construction, maintenance and operation of a wireless
                                                                                      Council
telecommunications facility at 270 Valley Road, New Canaan, }
Connecticut.                                                                     February 18, 2004


                                                   Opinion

On February 25, 2003, Omnipoint Facilities Network 2, LLC a subsidiary of T-Mobile, USA, Inc. (T-Mobile)
applied to the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and
Public Need (Certificate) for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a wireless telecommunications
facility at 270 Valley Road, New Canaan, Connecticut. Marie Louise Brown, Iona C. Hubbard, the Citizens
for Responsible Cellular Planning, Dayton Ogden, Jr. and Margaret R. Ogden, and the Town of New Canaan
were parties in this proceeding. AT&T Wireless PCS, LLC d/b/a AT&T Wireless intervened in the
proceeding and expressed a willingness to share the proposed telecommunications facility. Other intervenors
in this proceeding were Diane M. Baldwin, Janet Z. Congdon, John D. Hough and Sally N. Hough, and
Nancy G. Neuser and Gary A. Neuser. The purpose of the proposed facility is to provide wireless
telecommunications service to the eastern portion of New Canaan and the western portion of Wilton.

The public need for wireless telephone facilities has been determined both by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 which has declared a general public
need for wireless service, established a market structure for system development, and developed technical
standards that have restricted the design of facilities. These pre-emptive determinations by the FCC have
resulted in a system of numerous wireless telecommunications facilities in nearly all areas of the country.
Connecticut State law directs the Council to balance the need for development of proposed wireless
telecommunications facilities with the need to protect the environment, including public health and safety.

On June 26, 2002, a meeting was held at the New Canaan Town Hall with town officials and T-Mobile
representatives. The Town of New Canaan suggested that T-Mobile consider properties that are in the
vicinity of the proposed site. At a public information meeting on August 13, 2002, the Town asked T-Mobile
to investigate the Silver Hill Hospital property as an alternative location for the proposed facility. T-Mobile
determined that the Silver Hill Hospital would work from a radio frequency coverage perspective. Silver Hill
Hospital was not interested in allowing a lease for a telecommunications facility on the property at that time.
A portion of the Silver Hill Hospital property was placed on the market for sale in the period of June to July
2003.

The proposed site would include a 150-foot silhouette pole within a two-acre property located at the City of
Norwalk’s First District Water Company (Water Company). The Water Company property is zoned two-acre
residential and is surrounded by residential homes. No trees with diameters of six inches or greater at breast
height would have to be removed for the construction of the proposed site and access road. There are 30
residences within a 1,000-foot radius of the proposed site, the nearest of which is 230 feet to the southwest of
the proposed site. The southern corner of the proposed compound is approximately 56 feet from the adjacent
property boundary to the south.

The proposed 150-foot silhouette pole would be designed to accommodate four sets of antennas, which would
be contained within the pole. T-Mobile would install antennas at the 146-foot level and the 139-foot level,
AT&T would install antennas at the 129-foot level and space would remain available at the 119-foot level.
The proposed compound would consist of a 30-foot by 20-foot area, which would be surrounded by a six-foot
chain link fence and six-foot arborvitae or similar shrubs.
Docket No. 243
Opinion
Pg. 2


While the proposed site would provide coverage to the eastern portion of New Canaan and the western
portion of Wilton, the proposed location of this tower is in close proximity to surrounding residents.
Visibility of the proposed structure would primarily impact the immediate area including portions of Valley
Road to the northwest and southeast of the proposed site, Wardwell Drive, and portions of Thayer Drive. The
home at 2 Wardwell Drive and two homes to the east at 253 and 269 Valley Road would have direct views of
the proposed tower. A home at 286 Valley Road, which is to the north of the proposed site, would have a
view of the proposed tower through the trees at a lower elevation than the site. Two homes, at 17 Wardwell
Drive and 94 Thayer Drive, would have seasonal views of the proposed tower.

After considering all of the relevant concerns in this docket, we find that the visual impact that would result
from the construction and operation of the proposed tower would outweigh the need for its existence.
Consequently, due to the visual impact of the proposed tower on the surrounding neighbors, we will deny this
site without prejudice at this time.